Tasselsnout Flathead, Thysanophrys cirronasa (Richardson, 1848)

Scientific name: Thysanophrys cirronasa
Alternative name/s:
Rock Flathead, Tassel-snouted Flathead
Tasselsnout Flathead, Thysanophrys cirronasa Click to enlarge image
A Tasselsnout Flathead at a depth of 8 m, Cabbage Tree Bay, Sydney, 1 September 2011. Image: Jayne Jenkins
© Jayne Jenkins

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Thysanophrys
    Species
    cirronasa
    Family
    Platycephalidae
    Order
    Scorpaeniformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 38 cm in length.

Introduction

The Tasselsnout Flathead has a very large head which makes up about 40% of the length of the fish. It occurs from southern Queensland to south-western Western Australia.

Identification

The Tasselsnout Flathead has a very large head which makes up about 40% of the length of the fish. The head has well developed spines but no scales. The large mouth has bands of villiform teeth on the jaws and the roof of the mouth (on the bones known as the vomer and palatines). This species has a short spiny dorsal fin and a long soft dorsal fin. The body is covered with small ctenoid scales.

The colouration of the Tasselsnout Flathead is highly variable from pale brown to purple with darker saddles and markings. The first dorsal fin has a dark band on the margin. All the other fins have markings including dark diagonal bands.

Distribution

The species occurs in temperate marine waters from southern Queensland to south-western Western Australia. It has not been recorded from Tasmanian waters.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  2. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Crawford House Press. Pp. 437.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. in Gomon, M.F., C.J.M. Glover & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.